Staffing agencies help candidates navigate job search

By Emilia Benton, staff writer |
August 1, 2014

An experienced recruiter will sit down with job seekers to understand their career goals, strengths and expertise to ensure that their next job opportunity is the right fit.

Whether you've recently relocated to Houston or are looking to make a career change, Houston-area staffing agencies are available to help.

Staffing and recruiting companies work to make good matches between people and companies. There are three main types of staffing industry job placements: temporary/contract, temporary-to-permanent and direct hire/permanent employee.

Even though you may be working as a part-time temporary employee when employed through a staffing agency, you likely will be eligible for benefits such as vacation time, holiday time, health insurance and retirement plans. Temporary employees additionally get free training and gain new skills through their jobs, opening the door to new assignments once they complete a temporary assignment.

"One of the biggest advantages of going through a staffing agency is having the opportunity to hear jobs that you'll never otherwise see, because companies will keep them confidential to make the hiring process easier on themselves by not advertising them," said Jessica Wheeler, distract manager, Burnett Staffing-Houston. "Companies often don't have the time to ... deal with constant incoming calls about open positions, so they'll leave all that to a middleman at a staffing agency."

In addition to helping people land interviews, recruiters help people prepare for interviews and be ready to present themselves to their clients. Another perk of turning to a staffing agency is that you'll get insider information about companies and hiring managers because the recruiters get to know them very well, which helps clients go in with a bit more confidence and preparation, Wheeler said.

"Before you come to a recruiter, you're basically just a piece of a paper. People go to agencies after applying to hundreds of places, and once they are able to meet with a recruiter face to face, that person can become their advocate and help them see why they're not getting hired. Agencies get to bring you to life and work as a salesperson for you," she said.

Before going in to consult with a company such as Burnett, Wheeler said candidates should review the website, build a profile and begin applying to jobs through the recruiter they plan to meet with. Even though they're not going to be employed by Burnett, candidates are advised to dress professionally, be courteous and be on time once they are scheduled for their initial meeting.

If a client is relocating to a new city, they're advised to reach out to an agency once they have a time frame for when they'll be available to interview and begin working, as companies are often looking to fill positions within a matter of weeks. They also should make sure they have an address or an idea of what area in which they will be looking to live and work, as convenience is a huge factor in a city as large as Houston.

Another recruiting firm assisting candidates is Aerotek, a niche-based firm with offices in Houston. The company focuses on technical, professional and industrial staffing, placing candidates in positions including architecture, automotive, construction, energy, engineering, environmental, aerospace and defense, aviation, scientific, clinical, administrative, and accounting and finance.

"People come to Aerotek with different wants and different needs within the Houston market," said Phil Wagner, director of business operations for Aerotek's Houston market. "There is a large influx of people relocating for different types of opportunities within the market locally, as well as many people wanting to move here from outside of Houston.

"Houston is a staffing-rich market. By working with someone who has a familiarity of the market, casting a bigger net as a candidate is always going to benefit you because the more people you talk to, the more opportunities you'll stumble across."

Wagner said candidates should know what they are looking for, what industry they're wanting to get involved with, where they want to live, what type of company they would like to work for, etc. Candidates should do whatever they can to highlight their skills, expertise and work history. He also said candidates should come prepared with references from past projects and experiences when approaching a staffing agency.

An experienced recruiter will sit down with job seekers to understand their career goals, strengths and expertise to ensure that their next job opportunity is the right fit. The most important thing candidates can do to prepare is understand and know what they want out of a job.

Wagner said a benefit of taking a temporary or contract position while continuing a job search is that candidates can come in and get an idea of what the company is like and what opportunities are available while accelerating the time it takes to get their foot in the door.

"The bottom line is the more time a job seeker invests in networking and building relationships with recruiters, the better their chances," he said. "We serve as a point person between a client and an employee, and the goal is to have someone join an organization. It's the business we personally strive for to create a win for both the contractor and client, serving both parties to make good things turn back around for our company as well."